§ Baroness DAVIDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are in possession of any information as to the extent to which local housing authorities in England and Wales make use of distress powers for dealing with rent arrears.
§ The Lord BELLWINThe latest information available relates to the year ending 31st March, 1978. It shows that just over 100 local authorities in England and Wales made use of distress notices, though not all of them found it necessary to distrain goods. My honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Construction has asked the local authority associations if they would review the use of distraint and consider whether they should issue guidance to their members.